Hard-grade asphalt binders, such as AC 20–30, offer excellent resistance to permanent deformation but are inherently brittle, making them highly susceptible to fatigue and low-temperature cracking. While polymer modification addresses these issues, virgin polymers remain expensive. Despite the growing interest in recycled plastics, the rheological impact of complex waste streams, specifically polyvinyl chloride (PVC) derived from flex banners containing plasticizers, on excessively stiff binders within the complete Superpave Performance Grading (PG) framework remains critically underexplored. This study introduces a novel valorization approach by utilizing solvent-extracted flex banner waste (WPVC) as a dual-action modifier. It leverages the stiffening effect of the PVC network alongside the softening effect of leached plasticizers to redistribute the viscoelastic properties of hard-grade bitumen. The primary objective is to upgrade AC 20–30 into a balanced, climate-resilient binder. WPVC was incorporated at 10%, 20%, and 30% by weight. A comprehensive evaluation was performed using microstructural and chemical analyses, including Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX), and optical microscopy, along with advanced rheological testing such as frequency sweep (master curve), multiple stress creep recovery (MSCR), linear amplitude sweep (LAS), and the Glover–Rowe (G–R) index. Results demonstrated that WPVC integration significantly improved microstructural homogeneity without accelerating oxidative aging. The 20% WPVC dosage emerged as the optimum configuration, effectively reducing rotational viscosity and excessive high-temperature stiffness while maintaining exceptional rutting resistance suitable for extreme traffic (PG82-E). Crucially, the intermediate-temperature performance was remarkably enhanced; the WPVC20 blend exhibited a 918% increase in fatigue life (at 2.5% strain) in the LAS test compared to the base binder. Furthermore, the G-R index confirmed a substantial reduction in cracking susceptibility. Ultimately, this research provides a sustainable, data-driven pathway for transforming hazardous flex banner waste into a high-value modifier for durable flexible pavements.
The increase in the number of trucks and other heavy vehicles in Iraqi highways lead to cracking and deteriorations in the flexible highway. The use of polymermodified asphalt may solve this problem to match the required performance standards. This study investigates the effects of styrene-butadiene-styrene (SBS) polymer on the performance behaviour of Iraqi bitumen binder. The characteristics of bitumen binder were analysed to observe the compatibility of bitumen with SBS polymer. The bitumen binder was mixed with three different contents of SBS (4%, 4.5%, and 5%) by weight of asphalt cement. Viscosity tests were conducted on the SBS polymer-modified asphalt at 135 oC and 165 oC in addition to conventional binder tests. The prepar
... Show MoreThe quantum chromodynamics theory approach was taken to study the photonic emission from interaction of quark gluon at high at Bremsstrahlung processes. Strength coupling, quark charge 𝑒𝑞 , flavor number 𝑛𝐹 , thermal energy T of system, fugacity of gluon ƛ𝑔, fugacity of quark ƛ𝑞 , critical temperature 𝑇𝐶 and photons energy 𝐸 are taken to calculate photons rate via the quantum system. Photons emission rate studies and calculates via high energy 400MeV to 650 MeV using flavor number 3 and 7 for 𝑢̅𝑔 → 𝑑̅𝑔𝛾 and 𝑐𝑔 → 𝑠𝑔𝛾 systems at bremsstrahlung processes with critical temperature (𝑇𝑐 = 190 and 196) MeV with photons energy (1-10) GeV. The confinement and de-confineme
... Show MoreIn the recent years the research on the activated carbon preparation from agro-waste and byproducts have been increased due to their potency for agro-waste elimination. This paper presents a literature review on the synthesis of activated carbon from agro-waste using microwave irradiation method for heating. The applicable approach is highlighted, as well as the effects of activation conditions including carbonization temperature, retention period, and impregnation ratio. The review reveals that the agricultural wastes heated using a chemical process and microwave energy can produce activated carbon with a surface area that is significantly higher than that using the conventional heating method.
Despite widespread agreement on the beneficial nature of hydrated lime (HL) addition to asphalt concrete mixes, understanding of the effect of HL particle size is still limited. Previous investigations have focused mainly on two different size comparisons, and so certain guidance for a practical application cannot yet be produced. This study investigates three distinct sizes of HL, in the range of regular, nano, and sub-nano scales, for their effects on the properties of modified asphalt concretes. Five different percentages of HL as a partial replacement of ordinary limestone filler in asphalt concrete mixes were studied for wearing course application purposes. Experimental tests were conducted to evaluate the mechanical properties
... Show MoreThe 4-(?-bromo acetyl)-4?-toluene sulfonanilide (2) was used as key intermediate to synthesize new heterocyclic compounds. This bromo compound was synthesized via sulfonation of amino group of p-amino acetophenone using Hinsburg method with 4-toluene sulfonyl chloride to form 4-acetyl-4?-toluene sulfonanilide (1) which is used as a starting material in this work. This compound was brominated to yield compound (2) which is used as a precursor to synthesize new five and seven membered heterocyclic compounds such as substituted 1,3-oxazoles (3,4), 1,3-thiazole derivatives (5-7), thiourea compounds (8a,b), 1,3-Thiazoline-2-thione compounds (9a-f) and 1,2,5-triazepine compounds (11a-d). The synthesized compounds were identified depending u
... Show MoreThe world's population growth and the increasing demand for new infrastructure facilities and buildings , present us with the vision of a higher resources consumption, specially in the form of more durable concrete such as High Performance Concrete (HPC) . Moreover , the growth of the world pollution by plastic waste has been tremendous. The aim of this research is to investigate the change in mechanical properties of HPC with added waste plastics in concrete. For this purpose 2.5%, 5% and 7.5% in volume of natural fine aggregate in the HPC mixes were replaced by an equal volume of Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) waste , got by shredded PET bottles. The mechanical propert
... Show MoreIn the present study waste aluminium cans were recycled and converted to produce alumina catalyst. These cans contain more than 98% aluminum oxide in their structure and were successfully synthesized to produce nano sized gamma alumina under mild conditions. A comprehensive study was carried out in order to examine the effect of several important parameters on maximum yield of alumina that can be produced. These parameters were reactants mole ratios (1.5, 1.5, 2, 3, 4 and 5), sodium hydroxide concentrations (10, 20, 30, 40, 50 and 55%) and weights of aluminum cans (2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 g). The compositions of alumina solution were determined by Atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS); and maximum yield of alumina solution was 96.3% obtain
... Show MoreThis work presents an innovative approach to enhancing the performance of concrete with reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) aggregates using titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles. Traditional limestone coarse aggregates were partially replaced with 30% and 50% RAP aggregates; a subset of mixtures containing RAP aggregates was treated with TiO2 nanoparticles. The rheological, mechanical, and long-term properties of concrete, along with changes in its chemical composition following the addition of RAP and TiO2, were evaluated. Results revealed that using 30% and 50% RAP in concrete mixtures reduced their compressive strength by 18% and 27%, respectively. However, using TiO2 in those mixtures enhanced their compressive strength by 8.7% an
... Show MoreMoisture damage is described as a reduction in stiffness and strength durability in asphalt mixtures due to moisture. This study investigated the influence of adding nano silica (NS) to the Asphalt on the moisture susceptibility of hot-mix-asphalt (HMA) mixtures under different aging conditions. NS was mixed with asphalt binder at concentrations of 2%, 4%, and 6% by weight of the binder. To detect the microstructure changes of modified Asphalt and estimate the dispersion of NS within the Asphalt, the field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM) was used. To examine the performance of Asphalt mixed with NS at different aging stages (short-term and long-term aging), asphalt mixture tests such as Marshall stability,
... Show MoreHigh-volume traffic with ultra-heavy axle loads combined with extremely hot weather conditions increases the propagation of rutting in flexible pavement road networks. Several studies suggested using nanomaterials in asphalt modification to delay the deterioration of asphalt pavement. The current work aims to improve the resistance of hot mix asphalt (HMA) to rutting by incorporating Nano Silica (NS) in specific concentrations. NS was blended into asphalt mixtures in concentrations of 2, 4, and 6% by weight of the binder. The behavior of asphalt mixtures subjected to aging was investigated at different stages (short-term and long-term aging). The performance characteristics of the asphalt mixtures were evaluated using the Marshall s
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